Company patents

FANUC CORPORATION

Fanuc Corporation's patent strategy is heavily concentrated in core manufacturing technologies, with Manipulators & Robotics (41.3% of portfolio) and Industrial Control Systems (33.4% of portfolio) dominating its portfolio. While Motor Control showed a significant 37.5% YoY growth in 2024, it's surprising to see a sharp decline in patenting across nearly all categories in 2025 and so far in 2026, with Plastics Shaping & Molding experiencing a complete cessation of patenting in 2026 (YoY -100.0%), indicating a potential shift away from this area.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

1,764 US filings (since 2023) · 12 categories · 38 themes

Advanced Motor Control Algorithms

Sophisticated software or hardware-implemented control strategies that optimize motor performance, such as precise speed/torque regulation, vibration reduction, or efficiency, often using model-based, predictive, or adaptive techniques.

Motor Control
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317since 2023
+9.6%YoY
Robot Health Monitoring & Safety

Methods and systems for monitoring the operational status, detecting anomalies, ensuring safe interaction, and preventing damage or injury in robotic systems.

Manipulators & Robotics
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312since 2023
+4.4%YoY
Specialized End-Effectors & Mechanisms

Design and control of advanced robotic grippers, tools, and mechanical linkages for specific manipulation tasks or operating in challenging environments.

Manipulators & Robotics
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248since 2023
-11.8%YoY
Welding Process Control

Systems and methods for precisely controlling welding parameters such as power, speed, oscillation, and material feed to optimize weld quality, consistency, and efficiency, often involving automated or semi-automated processes.

Welding & Soldering
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129since 2023
0.0%YoY
AM Process Monitoring & Control

Systems and methods for real-time sensing, modeling, and closed-loop control of additive manufacturing parameters to ensure part quality, consistency, and process efficiency. This includes thermal management, atmospheric regulation, and precise material deposition.

Industrial Control Systems
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99since 2023
+31.2%YoY
Motor System Fault Detection

Methods and systems for identifying anomalies, failures, or impending issues within electric motors or their associated drive and power management circuits, often by monitoring electrical or operational parameters.

Motor Control
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94since 2023
-27.3%YoY
Automated Visual Inspection

Systems that employ imaging and image processing to automatically detect defects, verify states, or ensure quality control in manufactured goods, printed materials, or industrial processes.

Pictorial / Video Communications
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78since 2023
+42.1%YoY
Remote & Wireless Industrial Control

Systems and methods enabling the monitoring, configuration, and operation of industrial equipment and processes from a distance, often utilizing wireless communication protocols and networked platforms for enhanced flexibility and access.

Industrial Control Systems
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43since 2023
-52.9%YoY
Vision-Based Object & Pose Estimation

Methods and apparatus for detecting objects and determining their three-dimensional position and orientation (pose) using imagery or point cloud data, often for navigation, surveying, or environmental understanding.

Computer Vision
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40since 2023
0.0%YoY
Laser Material Processing

Techniques and systems utilizing laser beams for precise material modification, including cutting, cladding, ablation, and surface treatment, often for joining, shaping, or removing material.

Welding & Soldering
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36since 2023
-11.1%YoY
Predictive Maintenance & Anomaly Detection

Utilizing sensor data, historical performance, and analytical models to anticipate equipment failures, diagnose faults, and estimate remaining useful life, thereby enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.

Industrial Control Systems
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34since 2023
-12.5%YoY
Sensorless Motor Control

Techniques for determining the rotor position, speed, or other operational parameters of an electric motor without dedicated physical sensors, often relying on back-EMF, current, or voltage measurements.

Motor Control
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32since 2023
-27.3%YoY
Autonomous Path Planning

Algorithms and systems for generating, optimizing, and executing trajectories for autonomous vehicles or robots to move through an environment, often involving obstacle avoidance, route validation, and goal reaching.

Manipulators & Robotics
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32since 2023
-22.2%YoY
Sensor-based Environment Perception

Techniques and hardware for autonomous systems to gather and interpret data about their surroundings, including obstacle detection, object recognition, and depth estimation, to inform control decisions.

Manipulators & RoboticsComputer Vision
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29since 2023
-30.8%YoY
Welding & Soldering Tool Design

Design and features of welding and soldering tools, fixtures, and accessories that enhance user safety, ergonomics, operational efficiency, and precise workpiece manipulation, including protective equipment and clamping mechanisms.

Welding & Soldering
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28since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Stator & Coil Manufacturing

Manufacturing processes and techniques for producing stator cores, windings, and coils, including lamination, impregnation, hairpin winding, and segment coil bending, to improve motor efficiency, power density, or reliability.

Electric Motors & Generators
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24since 2023
-87.5%YoY
Inverter and Drive Circuit Control

Methods and circuits for controlling the power electronic converters (inverters, bridges) that supply current and voltage to electric motors, including switching strategies, voltage command generation, and multi-phase configurations.

Motor Control
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21since 2023
-77.8%YoY
Advanced Motor Topologies

Development of novel motor architectures beyond traditional radial flux designs, including linear, axial, or multi-armature configurations, often to optimize for specific performance characteristics like torque density or form factor.

Electric Motors & Generators
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21since 2023
-75.0%YoY
Plastic Extrusion Processes

Methods and equipment for continuously shaping plastic materials by forcing them through a die, often involving screw extruders, heating elements, and downstream calibration.

Plastics Shaping & Molding
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20since 2023
-80.0%YoY
AI/ML for Industrial Process Optimization

Applying machine learning and artificial intelligence models to analyze industrial data, predict system behavior, and optimize control strategies for improved efficiency, quality, or environmental compliance in manufacturing and operations.

Industrial Control Systems
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12since 2023
0.0%YoY
Motor Power and Energy Management

Strategies and circuits for optimizing the supply and consumption of electrical power for motors, including current limiting, regenerative energy handling, battery integration, and managing power quality.

Motor Control
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12since 2023
-20.0%YoY
Video Enhancement & Object Tracking

Methods and systems for improving the quality of video streams, generating intermediate frames, or continuously locating and following objects within a sequence of images, even under occlusion.

Image Processing
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8since 2023
0.0%YoY
Weld Quality Monitoring & NDT

Systems and methods for assessing the quality and characteristics of welds or solder joints, often involving non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, image processing, or real-time feedback for process control and defect detection.

Welding & Soldering
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8since 2023
-60.0%YoY
Motor System Integration & Safety

Integration of electric motors into larger systems (e.g., vehicles, power tools) and safety features for high-voltage components, including control interfaces, mechanical integration, and environmental protection (e.g., waterproofing).

Electric Motors & Generators
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8since 2023
-66.7%YoY
Video Quality & Encoding Optimization

Methods and apparatus for improving the visual fidelity, resolution, or compression efficiency of video signals, often through advanced processing, up-scaling, or neural network-based filters.

Computer VisionPictorial / Video Communications
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7since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Thermoplastic Compression Molding

Processes involving the application of heat and pressure to shape thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, often using molds or presses, to achieve specific forms or material properties.

Plastics Shaping & Molding
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7since 2023
0.0%YoY
Multi-Sensor Imaging & Synthesis

Systems that combine data from multiple camera sensors or capture multiple images from different perspectives or qualities, often involving image processing techniques like synthesis to create enhanced or comprehensive views.

Pictorial / Video Communications
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5since 2023
new
AR/VR User Interfaces

Techniques for rendering, interacting with, and managing content within augmented or virtual reality environments, including spatial tracking, gaze interaction, and dynamic multi-application display management.

Input/Output & User Interfaces
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5since 2023
n/a
Specialized Neural Network Architectures

Development and optimization of novel neural network layers or architectures specifically designed to improve performance or efficiency for computer vision tasks.

Computer Vision
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4since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Multi-material Product Integration & Finishing

Techniques for combining multiple materials or layers, often with specialized surface treatments, coatings, or assembly methods, to create functional or aesthetically enhanced plastic articles, including consumer goods and encapsulated electronics.

Plastics Shaping & Molding
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4since 2023
n/a
AI for Medical Diagnostics

Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.

Computer VisionManipulators & Robotics
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3since 2023
n/a
Digital Twin & System Simulation

Creating virtual models (digital twins) of complex physical systems to simulate their behavior, predict performance, validate designs, or guide operations under various conditions.

Electronic Design Automation (CAD/EDA)
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3since 2023
n/a
Generative AI for Images

Techniques utilizing deep learning models like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) or diffusion models to create new images, modify existing ones, or generate synthetic data based on various inputs or conditions.

Computer VisionImage Processing
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2since 2023
n/a
3D Reconstruction & Modeling

Processes for creating or manipulating three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments, including mesh generation, surface fitting, and depth estimation from multiple views.

Image Processing
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2since 2023
n/a
Advanced Solder & Flux Formulations

Development of novel chemical compositions for fluxes, solders, and filler metals to improve material properties, enhance joint reliability, reduce defects, or meet specific application requirements like high-temperature reflow or specialized material joining.

Welding & Soldering
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1since 2023
n/a
AI/ML Hardware Acceleration

Specialized hardware, architectural designs, and computational methods to improve the speed, efficiency, and security of artificial intelligence and machine learning model execution, particularly for inference and data processing.

Machine Learning & AI
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1since 2023
n/a
Advanced Magnetic Powder Materials

Development and processing of metal powders with specific magnetic properties, including soft magnetic alloys, permanent magnet materials, and insulated powders for electronic components, often involving precise control of particle size, morphology, and composition.

Electric Motors & Generators
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1since 2023
n/a
Component Performance Optimization

Using computational design and simulation to optimize the performance characteristics of specific components or materials within a larger engineering system.

Electronic Design Automation (CAD/EDA)
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1since 2023
n/a

Patents

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